EX

pid descent. The leather portfolio he'd given me felt heavy in my hands – CEO of NatsTech, a position that

air out of place. No one would guess that less than twenty-four hours ago, I'd caught my husband in

lashing on the screen. My lawyer

office now," I said b

her voice oddly cheerful. "I ha

ion, the keys to a Bentley that now felt heavy in my pocket – it was all happening so fa

all glass and chrome and success. Her assistant waved me straight

ve desk, but something was off about her

" I asked, getting s

one of her leather client chai

anding there, looking immaculate in one of his custom suits, that

arling,"

I demanded, look

he realization hit me like a physical blow as I watched her lean slight

s escaped me in a

ay to reveal something cruel underneath. "Did you really thin

pain through my chest. "You're sup

s best," she cut me off. "And Lo

elope from his jacket. "

g toward the door, but Logan was faster. His hand clampe

tos of your little meeting with Nathan Cole this morning to find their way to th

t's

ding papers across her desk. "Perception does.

ers – transfer papers. Everything my parents had left me,

al," I protest

. She looked different – harder, colder, dressed in clothes I'd never seen befor

broke. "What did

iggle. "They opened my eyes. Showed me what you really are –

hem, or Nathan Cole will receive some very interestin

d. "What are you

, "and you'll never

ed away everything I owned, everything I'd worked for. With ea

y purse. "Your things will be sent to you. Eventual

just thro

glittering with malice. "How does i

smile, I could still see traces of the little girl who used to crawl into my

d. "Sorry I didn't protect y

p echoing in the quiet office. "Get out," he

my lip had split. "Enjoy it while it lasts, L

om a woman who just signed away eve

her calculated betrayal, my sister with her poisoned heart. "You think yo

ut," Ava said smoothly, pre

se of Abigail. For just a moment, her mask slipped, and I saw unce

houlders. No car, no phone, no money – they'd taken everything except the clothes on my b

my palm. Logan might have taken my past, but he'd forgotten something crucial: I still

oken me. Let them celebrate their victory. They'd learn soon enough –

, where my secret still grew. Logan's child, yes, but mine too. And I would

and began walking. I had a new office to get to, a new role to emb

the las